Dear Dr. Romance: I need something to break the ice!

What to say in this situation? OK so there's this girl in my art class that i really want to talk to and get to know! Problem is she sits at a different table then me and i just plain don't know what to say to her! I'm a senior and she's a sophomore! What should I say to her to show her I'm interested in her? I haven't talked to her yet so I need something to break the ice!

Dear Reader:

To break the ice, break something! Break a colored pencil, or a crayon or something, and then go ask her if you can borrow hers. Or, just say something nice about her artwork. Caution: Don't say anything at all about her body; women don't take that as a compliment. Aside from physical characteristics, what interests you most about her? Have you heard something she said that intrigues you? Go ask her about it! If you focus on what's interesting about her (other than her body) you'll have a lot to talk about. Ask her how she's handling the current class assignment, or ask her for some help with something. It's not so hard, if you just follow what's interesting. "Turn On Your Charm" gives guidelines you can follow to succeed with her. Dr. Romance's Guide to Finding Love Todaywill give you step-by-step instructions for flirting and starting conversations that will lead to a relationship.

Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D. is a licensed psychotherapist in S. California since 1978 with over 30 years experience in counseling individuals and couples and author of 13 books in 17 languages, including It Ends With You: Grow Up and Out of Dysfunction; The Unofficial Guide to Dating Again; Money, Sex and Kids: Stop Fighting About the Three Things That Can Ruin Your Marriage, The Commuter Marriage, and her newest, Love Styles: How to Celebrate Your Differences. She writes the “Dr. Romance” blog, and the “Happiness Tips from Tina” email newsletter.